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CONTACT:
     Laurey Peat
     Laurey Peat + Assoc.
     214/871.8787

Caldwell Zoo Milestones

1937 - Tyler businessman D.K. Caldwell starts a petting zoo in the backyard of the preschool he started for the young children of Tyler, TX.

1953 - Caldwell Zoo was moved to its present location to establish the Caldwell Zoo in earnest.

1961 - Glenn York becomes first full-time zoo director and hosts 1,500 to 3,500 visitors per day over the summer.

1963 - Hayes Caldwell begins working at Caldwell Zoo.

1966 - Wally, a three-year-old kangaroo joins the zoo's full-time residents.

1967 - Caldwell Zoo is now home to 500 animals representing 87 species.

1968 - Leopard, gibbon ape and aoudad join the Caldwell Zoo family. The Macaque monkey family gives birth to Scooter.

1969 - African lions Brigham and Suzie give birth to male cubs Bimbo and Tuco.

1970 - Kimbo the Asian elephant arrives at the zoo and prompts the first master plan and subsequent expansion.

1976 - Completion of the first master plan for the zoo's initial $2 million expansion.

1977 - Completion of the Elephant House.

1978 - Completion of Giraffe House.

1980 - Flamingo exhibit and Monkey Island open.

1981 - Additional $1.8 million expansion announced to develop Native Texas and farm animal areas.

1983 - Farm and native Texas wildlife area opens with water fowl, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and antelope.

1984 - The zoo develops geographically concentrating on East Africa, North America and South America regions.

1985 - Completion of the Aquarium/Reptile House including a 14,000-gallon aquarium. Zoo now features 800 animals from 200 species.

1987 - $2.5 million East Africa exhibit opens with flight cage, rhinos grazing areas, education huts, cafeteria, and gift shop.

1991 - East Africa Phase II Aquarium/Reptile building lions, Bongo/colobus exhibit.

1992 - With popularity of East Africa exhibit, attendance soars to 600,000. East Africa Phase II wins AZA exhibit award.

1993 - Black rhinoceros breeding program begins with seven-year-old female, Christa, giving birth to a female calf - "Ebony".

1996 - Zoo attendance tops 700,000.

1999 - Caldwell Zoo's master plan is extensively updated. $6.5 million in renovations begin.

2001 - Successful breeding program continues with the birth of a female giant anteater, the seventh giant anteater born at the Caldwell Zoo since 1993. The giant anteater is one of 28 endangered or threatened species housed at the zoo.

2003 - Caldwell Zoo marks 50 th year with renovations including an exciting new entrance to the zoo with new exhibits for Lemurs, Squirrel Monkeys, Tamarins, Flamingos, and Scarlet Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills, along with a new Children's Zoo animal contact area, gift shop, visitor services building and other visitor amenities.